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Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (1994)
Christopher Theofanidis:
"Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra was written for Kenneth Radnofsky and World-Wide Concurrent Premieres, Inc. It is [divided] into three ever-intensifying movements. The first is based on a chromatic figuration of running sixteenth-notes which is continuously passed between the soloist and orchestra. The second is based on a major third quarter-note pulse which is constantly confronted by competing tempos and sonorities. The saxophone part provides a lyrical counterpart to this rigor. The third movement starts with a heartbeat figuration which gives way to a shrill melody. These two materials become warring factions as the piece comes to a climax and ends at its most shrill moment."
Christopher Theofanidis (b. 1967) began composing at the age of 20, initially studying with David Ashley White at the University of Houston, Texas. He continued his compositional studies with Samuel Adler and Joseph Schwantner at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and with Jacob Druckman at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Currently on faculty at the University of Houston, Theofanidis has received commissions from the National, Houston, and Oregon Symphonies, among others. He was also composer-in-residence for the California Symphony from 1994 to 1996. Theofanidis has received such awards as the Prix de Rome, the Barlow Prize, and Guggenheim and Fulbright fellowships. Recordings of his music can be found on the Albany, Boston Records, and CRI labels.
related websites
http://pcm.peabody.jhu.edu/~theofanidis
Saxophonist Kenneth Radnofsky has appeared as a soloist with orchestras throughout the world including the New York Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus and Dresden Staatskapelle Orchestras, Taipei and New World Symphonies, and BBC Concert Orchestra. Many composers have received commissions from Radnofsky, including John Harbison, whose Sonata was premiered December 3, 1995 by 43 saxophonists in different locations worldwide, an effort organized by Radnofsky's World-Wide Concurrent Premieres, Inc. (WWCP). During 1999-2000, Radnofsky premiered new works by Gunther Schuller, David Amram, Michael Colgrass, Shih-Hui Chen, Andy Vores, Lei Liang, and Donald Martino. Radnofsky has taught for 30 years and currently serves as professor of saxophone at three Boston-area music schools: the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston Conservatory, and the Longy School of Music. He is also associate director of the Community Music Center of Boston. Radnosfky's own saxophone teachers were Terry Anderson, Duncan Hale, Jeffrey Lerner and Joseph Allard. He has recorded for the New World, Philips, and Teldec labels.
related websites
http://www.radnofsky.com
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